THE director for public health in Worcestershire has said no cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the county after a Job Centre worker tested positive.

The Department for Work and Pensions confirmed today that a Job Centre employee in Worcester has tested positive for coronavirus, prompting the branch to be closed down while a deep clean is carried out.

Unofficial reports say the worker is a member of the Job Centre's medical team.

A DWP spokesman said: "We are having a Job Centre deep cleaned and it will reopen in due course.

“We are contacting customers whose appointments are affected and these will be rearranged.

"All payments will be made as usual.”

The DWP said it is working closely with Public Health England and the staff member in question, and is reassuring members of the public that the employee did not have appointments with claimants.

It is yet to be confirmed whether the person diagnosed lives in Worcestershire, or is being treated in the county.

A statement released this afternoon by Worcestershire County Council, on behalf of public health director Dr Kathryn Cobain, said no cases in the county have been confirmed.

The statement reads: "There are no confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Worcestershire. Updated figures are released daily from the chief medical officer and no cases have been confirmed in the county."

If you think you might have coronavirus or you've been in close contact with someone who has it:

  • Stay at home and avoid close contact with other people
  • Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital
  • Use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service to find out what to do next

The 111 coronavirus service will tell you if you need to continue to stay at home (self-isolate) or if you need medical help.